Vacuum cleaner



Feb. 13, 1951 c. H. SPARKLIN 2,541,122

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 24, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ligi.

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Feb. 13, 1951 PARKUN 2,541,122

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/1 22 Z gw /g/ii? Feb. 13, 1951 Q S ARKL N 2,541,122

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 VACUUM CLEANER Charles H. Sparklin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Birtman Electric Company, a corporation of Illinois Application May 24, 1947, Serial No. 750,188

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a dirt separating member and means for drawing air through said member. It relates particularly to means for agitating the separating member for loosenin dirt embedded therein.

The invention is particularly adaptable to those vacuum cleaners of the vertical tank type wherein there is provided a dirt separating member such as a flexible screen arranged above a dirt receptacle and a motor driven fan above the screen for drawing dirt laden air through the screen. The dirt that is separated by the screen ordinarily falls into the dirt receptacle. It has been found, however, that a substantial portion of the dirt remains on the screen with this dirt having the effect of partially closing the openings in the screen. This dirt on the screen causes the cleaner to develop a back pressure which reduces the efficiency of the cleaner. The present invention is concerned with means for agitating the screen so that the embedded dirt will be jarred loose and fall into the dirt receptacle. The agitating means may be operated at any time, but it is preferred that it be operated only when the vacuum cleaner is not operating so that there will be no flow of air through the screen resisting the loosening of the dirt. The agitating means may, of course, be operated at any time, but it has been found that if it is operated between .periods of operation of the cleaner, the back pressure is reduced each time to approximately its original low value.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section of a vertical tank type vacuum cleaner embodying the invention with the agitating means shown at rest; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the agitating means just prior to its operation; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 33 of Fig. 2. Although the invention as shown is applied to a vertical tank type vacuum cleaner, it can just as easily be used with a horizontal tank type cleaner, a motor brush cleaner, or any other cleaner wherein dirt is separated from a fiow of air by passing the air through a screen or other separating member.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the vacuum cleaner comprises a bottom portion l serving as a dirt receptacle, a top portion ll arranged on the bottom portion, a flexible cloth screen l2 between the top and bottom portions with the screen having a marginal reenforcement $211, an electric motor l3 mounted on the top portion I I, and a suction fan l4 operated by the motor and partially enclosed in a fan housing [5. The dirt receptacle N3 of the cleaner is provided with an air conduit portion l6 extending through a wall of the dirt receptacle and through which dirt laden air is drawn through a nozzle or the like in a Well known manner. The air is drawn through the air conduit portion it up through the screen I 2, through an opening [5a in the fan housing I 5 around the motor, and exhausted out through outlet ports I! in the housing for the motor. The air that flows around the motor serves to cool the motor in the well known manner.

In order to agitate the screen l2 periodically, there are arranged a plurality of coil springs it having one end of each attached adjacent an edge of the screen with these ends being spaced from each other and the other ends attached to each other through a small plate 19. When the springs l8 are used on a vacuum cleaner having a square dirt receptacle It, as is shown in the drawings, each spring I8 is fastened adjacent a corner of the screen. The small plate It is then located opposite the approximate center of the screen l2.

On the outside of the dirt receptacle It, there is mounted a first lever 20 arranged for rotation about a fulcrum 20a at one end of the lever. Located immediately above the first lever 20 is a second lever 2i of considerably shorter length. This second lever is attached to a hexagonal rod 22 that is mounted to rotate about its axis. This rod 22 extends across the dirt receptacle ll) at one edge thereof and has the lever end held in a sleeve 23 that extends through one wall of the dirt receptacle with the other end of the rod being provided with a small circular extension 2211 that extends through the opposite wall of the dirt receptacle. The sleeve end of the rod 22 is mounted adjacent the fulcrum 20a and vertically above the fulcrum.

At approximately the midpoint of the rod 22, there is located an arm 24 extending to a point beneath the small plate It. The second lever 2| and the arm 25 are mounted for rotation with the rod 22 and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The free end of the arm 24 is attached by means of a small coil spring 25 to the plate l9.

Rotatably mounted on the 'free end of the second lever 2| is a dog 26 with this dog being mounted on a fulcrum 26a. The dog is provided with an inwardly extending notch 261) located below the bottom side of the second lever 2| and 3 a sloping cam surface 260 sloping upwardly toward the open end of the notch 26b. The upper end of the dog 26 is provided with an extension 2611. A small coil spring 21 is provided extending between this extension 260 and a similar extension 2la on the second lever 2|. This small spring 2! serves to urge the dog 28 in a clockwise direction around the fulcrum .26 -as viewed in Fig. 1. A small side extension 326a isprovided on the dog 26 with this extension normally resting against the top surface of the second lever 21. This side extension Ziie prevents the dog 26 from being turned too far in a clockwise direction under the urging of spring2'l. The. extensions 21c, 26d, and 266 are so located that whenthe extension 26c is against the top surface of the second lever 2|, the notch 261) will be located between the top surface of the first lever 29 and Further downward movement of the first lever serves to press the plunger 29a on the switch 29 and start the operation of the motor; and fan M. As can be seen, this arrangement insures the agitation of the screen l2 before the switch is turned on.

When pressure is released from the first lever 20, the .spring 28 on this .lever causes the lever to be returned to its starting gpositionadjacent the second lever 2|. The notch 26b automatically re-engages the extension 20c; this is caused by the sloping edge surface 29d of the extension 280 engaging sloping cam surface 260 of the dog 26. The engagement of these two surfaces 26c and 20d causes the dog 26 to turn in a counterclockwise dire'ctionas viewed in Fig. 1 about its fulcrum 26a. and against the resistance of the spring 21.- When the opening of the notch 261) the bottom surface of the second lever Zl and that when the levers 20 and 2| are in their topmost positions, the extension 200 will be located within the notch 26b. The coil Springs 18 that serve to agitate the screen 12 normally hold the second lever 21 and arm24 in a topmost position with thesprings 18 adjacent the screen 12 '(Fig. 1)- In order to hold the first lever 20 in a similarposition, there is provided a coil spring 28 attached to the first lever 20' and to the dirt receptacle Ill.

Located below the lowest position of the first lever '20, there is provided a switch '29 mounted on the outside of the dirt receptacle It]. This switch is the electrical circuit to the motor 13 and is provided with a plunger portion 29a adapted to turn the switch on and off.

.As has been previously explained, the agitating coil springs I'B are normally located adjacent and just .beneath the screen I2 and serve to hold the second lever 2| and arm 24 in their topmost position. The spring 28 also serves to hold the first lever '21 in a'similar positionwith the levers being approximately parallel to each other. When in "this 'positiomthe extension 20c will be located within thenotch 25b. With the parts in this position, the cleaner will not be operating. When it is desired to start the operation of the cleaner, thefirst lever 20 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as'viewedin Fig. 1, by pressing down on the tre'adle 201). Because of the engagement "of the extension 2130 with the notch 26b in the dog '26, this will also serve to draw the 'secondlev'er 21 arm'24 and springs 18 down. As the downward movement is continued from the topmost position, the extension 200 gradually moves out of the notch 26b. This is brought about by having the two levers 2i] and "2! rotatable about spaced points. When the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. 2, the extension 200 on the first lever 2.8 is almost out of the notch 2611' Further movement of the first .lever 20 causes the extension 230. to move completely out ofthe notch 26b. The springs IB Ithensnap back up against the screen 2'1 giving "the screen a'sharp blow and jarring loose the dirt embedded therein. The second lever .21 and the arm 24 are returned by this action v"to their topmostposition.

is opposite the rear edge of the extension 200, the spring 21 will cause the notch to re-engage the extension 200. The members will then be locked together and ready for another operation. In order thatthis re-engagement occur, it is of course necessary that the spring 28 on the lever '20 be stronger than the spring 2'! that extends between "the dog '26 and the first lever 21'.

With this arrangement, the 'screen F2 is *agi tated to dislodge embedded dirt before the-motor and .fan unit is turned on. "The nrotor and fan unit may be steppedby pressing directly on the plunger 29a of the switch 29' ior may be stopped by again operating the level-'20 'in the manner heretofore stated.

In order tha'tthelever 20 will be h'eldadjacent an outside surface of the dirt receptacle Hi, a strap '30 is provided spaced from the adjacent surface of the 'dirt'receptacle l'll' by sleeves '31 and bolts 32. This strap '3llis arranged in frictional engagement with theou'tside surface of the first lever 20.

If the contact of the springs l8 against the screen 62' causes undue'wear on the screen,leather or' other "wear resisting strips (not shown) can be attached to the screen'wi'th these strips being so located as to receive the impact of'the springs and impartittothe screen.

The top portion I'll and bottom portion I I of the cleaner may be attachedtogether in' any desired manner. As shown, they are joined by hinges '40 .on one side of' the cleaner and buckles 41 on the opposite side.

The sleeve23 aroundth'e rod and the extension 22aon the rod need not have too close a fit with corresponding openings in thebottomportionof the cleaner. If there is any leakage of air, the air will be drawn inwardly .because of the partial vacuum within .the cleaner and thus no dirt will escape. With the construction just described, the cleaning of the filter is preferably automatic in that in the form shown the filter is agitated before the cleaner motor is turned on and is agitated again before the motor is'tur'ned o'ff. is ,jprov'ided for by having the same "mechanism that operates the filter cleaning .device arranged to operate the motor switch. This makes it-absolutely necessary to clean-the filter every .time' the cleaner is turned on and ofi. The cleaner will thus maintain full eificiencyat all times untilthe dirt in the dirt compartment has almost reached the filter. The operatordoesnot need torernem ber to clean the filter .and need .not .even beconsc'ious that there isaiilter involved. a

"It is believed obvious that .a similar arrange-. ment can 'be used to .clean the .filter withouthav-v mg the apparatus also operate the switch, as the filter cleaning function may be made separate from the switch operation.

Having described my invention as relating to one embodiment of the same, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the detailsioi description unlessotherwise specified but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scopeas set out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and means including a motordriven fan for drawing air through said member, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member, means for applying force to the resilient means to draw said'resilient means away frcmth separatingmember, means to release substantially said force and permit the resilient means to snap against said separating member, and a switch for operating said fan with said switch being closed by the force-applying means after release of the resilient means.

2. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, a dirt separating member arranged above said receptacle and a motor-driven suction fan arranged to draw air through the separating member, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member on the side thereof adjacent the dirt receptacle, means for applying force to the resilient member to draw it away from the separating member, means for substantially releasing said force to permit the resilient means to snap against said separating member, and a switch for closing the circuit to said motor-driven fan with said switch being closed by the force-applyin means after release of the resilient means.

3. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, a dirt separating member arranged above said receptacle and a motor-driven suction fan arranged to draw air through the separating member, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member on the side thereof adjacent the dirt receptacle, a lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum, a second lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum, means normally connecting said levers, an arm pivotally mounted about a fulcrum and attached to said resilient means, means connecting said arm to said second lever for movement therewith, means normally urging said levers and said arm toward a position where the resilient means is adjacent the separating member, and means for releasing the connecting means between the first and second levers when the levers, arm and resilient means have been moved to a position away from th separating member.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein the second lever and the arm are mounted together for movement about a common fulcrum.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein the first and second levers are located outside said receptacle and the arm is located within the receptacle.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein the second lever and arm are mounted on a rod memher that is rotatable about its axis.

7. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, a flexible screen arranged above said receptacle and a motor-driven suction fan arranged to draw air through the screen, means for agitating the screen comprising spring means normally arranged adjacent and below the screen, a lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum and located outside of the receptacle, a rod having one end adjacent the fulcrum and rotatable about its axis, said rod extending into the receptacle, a second lever normally arranged adjacent the first lever outside the receptacle and mounted on said rod for rotation therewith and connected to said spring means, means urging said levers, arm and resilient means toward a first position where the spring means is adjacent the screen, means normally connecting the levers, means for releasing the connecting means when the levers, arm and resilient means have been moved to a second position where the spring means is away from the screen, and :means for re-attaching the connecting means to the levers when the levers have been returned to said first position.

8. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, a flexible screen arranged above said receptacle and a motor-driven suction fan arranged to draw air through the screen, means for agitating the screen comprising spring means normally arranged adjacent and below the screen, a lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum and located outside of the receptacle, a

rod having one end adjacent the fulcrum and rotatable about its axis, said rod extending into the receptacle, a second lever normally arranged adjacent the first lever outside the receptacle and mounted on said rod for rotation therewith, an arm mounted on said rod for rotation therewith and connected to said spring means, means urging said levers, arm and resilient means toward a first position where the spring means is adjacent the screen, means normally connecting the levers, means for releasing the connecting means when the levers, arm and resilient means have been moved to a second position where the spring means is away from the screen and means for re-attaching the connecting means to the levers when the levers have been returned to said first position, and a switch in the electrical circuit to the motor with the switch being operated when the first lever has been moved beyond said second position.

9. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, a flexible screen arranged above said receptacle and a motor-driven suction fan arranged to draw air through the screen, means for agitating the screen comprising spring means normally arranged adjacent and below the screen, a lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum and located outside of the receptacle, 2. rod having one end adjacent the fulcrum and rotatable about its axis, said rod extending into the receptacle, a second lever normally arranged adjacent the first lever outside the receptacle and mounted on said rod for rotation therewith, an arm mounted on said rod for rotation therewith and connected to said spring means, spring means normally urging the first lever to a first position where said first lever is adjacent the second lever, means normally connecting the levers, means for releasing the connecting means when the first lever has been moved to a second position with the agitating spring means away from the screen, means for re-attaching the connecting means when the first lever has been returned to said first position, and a switch in the electrical circuit to the motor, said switch being located adjacent said first lever but slightly beyond it when the lever is in its second position, with the switch being operated upon further movement of the first lever after the release of the connecting means.

10. The vacuum cleaner :of claim 9 wherein the second lever and rod is arranged above the first lever. and the connecting means comprises a hook-shaped member mounted on the second lever and adapted to engage a. portion of the first lever when the first lever is in said first position'but be out of engagement with said 7 portion when the :first lever is in said second position.

11. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and a motor-driven .fan, means normally "arranged adjacent the separating member for agitating said member, a switch inthe electrical circuit to the motor appara-tus movable through a path from one position to a second position, means including a partof :said movable apparatus for operating said switch at .said second position, and means also including a part of said. movable apparatus for first operating saidagitating means at a point in. :said

8 path between said first and second position and prior to the operating of :said switch.

CHARLES ,SPARKBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The to-flowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

"UNITED "STATES PATENTS 7 :Date' Number Name 1,602,345 Eiben Get. 5, 1926 1,621,824 Boesger 22,. 1927 1,757,834 Haegler May-6, 1930 2,057,572 Lofgren Apr. 20.,- 51937 2,192,357 Leathers Mar; :5, 19:40 2,242,277 Yonkers May 20., .1941 2,443,162 .Hallock ....r r June 18, .1948

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,443,162 Hallock June 8, 1948 

